The health sector has made notable strides in improving maternal, newborn and child health through a multi-pronged strategy emphasizing improvement in health infrastructure, human resources, supplies and commodities, information and service delivery systems. Despite good progresses, there is still high rate of maternal and perinatal deaths. Maternal and perinatal mortality of Ethiopia are estimated to be 412/100,000 live births and 46/1000 births according to the 2016 and 2011 Ethiopian DHS reports respectively. Ministry of Health (MoH) of Ethiopia aims to eliminate preventable maternal and perinatal deaths and thus has been implementing maternal and perinatal death surveillance and response (MPDSR) since 2013 and 2017 respectively, through integrating with the national public health emergency management (PHEM). The MPDSR system seeks tracking and measuring all maternal and perinatal deaths in real time. This enables understanding of underlying causes and contributing factors of the deaths and can stimulate further action to prevent similar deaths in future. Furthermore, it provides information on the number of deaths, their place and timing, and whether or not they were preventable. The surveillance process includes community level identification of both maternal and perinatal deaths (probable and suspected) and their standard case definitions, identification, notification, investigation (verbal autopsy and facility based abstraction), review and reporting (weekly aggregate and case based summary reporting). Response is the ultimate aim of the surveillance process. MPDSR response is based on review of each case-based summary and analysis of aggregated data. Action plans are developed to provide responses at community and facility levels. Additionally, programmatic responses are given at woreda, regional and national levels. Health facilities with high numbers of deaths also use the findings from aggregated case summaries to identify institutional responses. As government entities, EPHI, MNCAYH-N Directorate and Health Services Quality Directorate (HSQD) are collaborating to scale up and improve the overall implementation of the MPDSR system.
Purpose : This position is required to provide quality technical assistance to MOH on MPDSR
Job Title MPDSR Technical Assistant For MOH
Duty Station: Addis Ababa MOH
Reporting: Maternal Health case team lead, MOH
Salary: Attractive
Duration: 1 year with possible extension
Justification
The MPDSR system requires dedicated human resource at various levels of reporting and responses. The surveillance officers or focal persons at lower levels are responsible for the reporting process in collaboration with MNCH, HEWs and communities. The Core Rapid Response Team (RRT) of PHEM brings relevant health professionals and responsible bodies to the review process.
To guide MPDSR implementation, the EPHI/PHEM has developed this technical guidance through its national MPDSR working group. This technical guidance is meant to standardize and improve quality of implementation of MPDSR at national, regional, woreda and local levels through an integrated approach within the existing PHEM system.
MNCAYH-N directorate is keen to ensure appropriate and timely response is provided based on the directions outlined in the technical guidance. As for other levels, a dedicated MPDSR expert is therefore required to be placed within and provide technical assistance to the directorate.
The MPDSR TA sitting within the MNCAYH-N directorate is responsible to provide high level advice and technical assistance as well as liaise with EPHI and HSQD so that all arms of the MPDSR system are smoothly operating and the government is able to have the full capacity to respond to the needs in an effort to reduce maternal and newborn deaths.
Specific Tasks
The TA will:
Provide direct support to the MOH and to all regions in revitalization and implementation of MPDSR system in line with national guidelines; and provide technical support to enhance technical capacity on training, mentoring and supportive supervision to maternal health experts and health service providers on MPDSR,
Organize and oversee the national level capacity building (trainings) activities related with MPDSR to health providers and health program managers at all levels of health system
Ensure the activities and lessons from MPDSR system are available and inform the national strategic and operational plans, with regard to quality of care, MNCAYH and health information system
Ensure the action-oriented focus of MPDSR is maintained, and that the lessons are embedded into the wider MNH quality improvement programming at national level
Ensure evidence from MPDSR are utilized for immediate action at health facility level as part of wider quality improvement processes that include development and execution of quality projects and at zonal and regional level as well.
Provide substantive technical advice and advocacy on maternal health and MPDSR to high level FMOH leadership, other relevant government sectors and stakeholders.
Support MNCH directorate, specifically maternal adolescent and youth health case teams in MNH quality improvement program designing, monitoring, and evaluation and supporting activities.
Facilitates effective partnership with stakeholders engaged in MPDSR and maternal health/SRH program, assist in coordination and support existing national level maternal health/SRH related platforms and initiatives to strengthen regular maternal health/SRH related policy analysis, planning, delivery and monitoring.
Coordinate the introduction of confidentiality enquiry at national level
Monitor the implementation of call to action for accelerated response to PPH response
Provide technical support and inputs to prepare periodic reports and interpret results focusing on geographic and other equity dimensions and disseminate results including project reports, publications, summaries and special reports focusing on emerging regions.
Support Planning, Monitoring and Use of Data for Decision through participation in planning sessions and performance reviews
Provides technical guidance and support to identify, document and disseminate evidence-based best practices and lessons for improvement in relation to maternal health and MPDSR.
Coordinate and actively participates in regular maternal health/SRH technical working groups, joint supervision and other relevant national and regional level FMoH led activities.
Be a member of the MPDSR TWG that is led by EPHI and contributes towards the efficiency of the TWG
Be a member of the national quality TWG led by quality directorate and provide the required support as part of the coordination and linkage effort
Support on relevant activities deemed important by MCH directorate
Methodology
The TA will be hired through ABH on a competitive basis. S/he will be posted at MNCAYH-N directorate, MOH Ethiopia.
Expected Deliverables
A national confidentiality enquiry document is prepared and submitted
A national confidentiality steering committee is established, and regular meeting started, and minutes submitted
Two trainings for national confidentiality enquiry review committee are conducted and training reports submitted
At least one confidentiality review meeting is conducted
Revitalize MPDSR at national and to all regions (100%)
At least one national MPDSR training is conducted, and report submitted
At least one MPDSR training per region is conducted and report submitted
One MPDSR review meeting is conducted, and report submitted
Data analysis on quarterly MPDSR is done and feedback is provided to respective regions-activity report submitted
Perinatal death reports are collected; analysis reports are and feedbacks are provided to regions and activity report is submitted
A copy of a regional plan for the implementation of Call to Action for accelerated PPH response for all regions is submitted
Various MPDSR quality improvement tools (draft, share with relevant bodies, collect comments, submit a final tool and do a round of test) are developed in consultation with the MNCH and HSQ directorates such as
Reporting
The TA will be supervised by and reports to the lead of the maternal health case team in MOH.
Nationality
Candidates should be NATIONALS of Ethiopia
Policy both parties should be aware of
Under this agreement, a month is defined as 21 working days, and fees are prorated accordingly. TA is not paid for weekends or public holidays.
The TA is not entitled to payment of overtime. All remuneration must be within the contract agreement.
No contract may commence unless the contract is signed by both UNICEF and the consultant.
The TA will not travel without a signed travel authorization prior to the commencement of the journey to the duty station.
The TA will not have supervisory responsibilities or authority on UNICEF budget.
The TA will be required to sign the Health statement for consultants/Individual contractor prior to taking up the assignment, and to document that they have appropriate health insurance, including Medical Evacuation.
The Form 'Designation, change or revocation of beneficiary' must be completed by the consultant upon arrival, at the HR Section.
Consultant will be provided DSA for travel to the field (outside of the duty station)
Job Requirement
Expected background and Experience
BSc or MD background with master’s degree in public health in Reproductive health
Knowledge and experience on MNCH program(s)
Practical work experience on planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health programs;
A minimum of 10 years Work experience on the area of RMNCH
Excellent management, communication, negotiation, leadership, advocacy and analytical skills versatile and able to commit what it takes to achieve the regional and national targets.
Clinical background in maternal, newborn and child health and mentorship will be highly desirable.